Bike Buyer’s Guide

• Trek 2012 Marlin: The Trek Marlin is a versatile and value-priced hardtail that places the emphasis on the bike's core performance while serving as an entry into the industry's latest technical advances. This year's version features 29-inch rims and disc brakes.

Price: $649.99.

• Specialized Carve: The Carve is new this year and introduces big performance features for a performance-oriented rider on a value-priced budget. You get an oil-damped magnesium shock and hydraulic disc brakes that have more power and feel than mechanical brakes and stop consistently no matter what you, the weather or terrain are doing.

Price: $1,350.

• Giant Roam 1: This bike is worth looking into if you want a suburban transport bike with an upright posture that can take some curb bumps and sweet jumps. It's got bigger, 700c road-style wheels, so it's going to roll better on pavement than its knobby-tired brethren.